The Arcane Keepers headquarters hummed with a tense energy. Inside a small conference room, several members gathered under harsh fluorescent lights.
Fiona sat in a chair, her right hand resting protectively in her lap, bandages visible around her wrist. Jasper was getting closer to her.
"So how's your hand?" Jasper asked, his voice softer than usual. "Still hurt?"
Fiona shook her head, managing a small, tight smile. She lifted her hand, flexing her fingers carefully. The skin was pink and new where Hairo had healed the brutal tear.
"I'm already healed," she said, showing it off to him. "Just feels a little stiff. Thank you for asking."
Jasper offered a genuine, relieved smile. "That's good."
The door burst open before he could say more. "Wait, wait, I heard what happened!" Gloria announced, striding into the room, her long blonde hair swinging.
She planted her hands on her hips, glaring directly at Fiona. "Fiona, why didn't you ever tell me anything?" She was pissed. Her voice was sharp with anger. "Aren't I your partner? Do you think I'm useless or something? That's so cruel of you!"
Fiona flinched, shrinking back in her chair. "N-no, that's not what I meant!" she stammered. "I just..." She looked down at her hands. "...didn't want you to get involved. I didn't want anyone else targeted because of me."
"Why not?" Gloria demanded, taking a step closer. "We're supposed to watch each other's backs!"
"He was dangerous!" Fiona insisted, her voice rising slightly with remembered fear. "And... And..." She struggled to articulate the suffocating dread she'd felt.
"That's not a good enough reason!" Gloria snapped, crossing her arms. "You just didn't trust me, right? Thought I couldn't handle it?"
"No, I—" Fiona started, her eyes pleading.
"Stop with the excuses," Gloria cut her off sharply, her gaze unwavering.
"That's enough, Gloria," Jasper interjected, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable command. He stepped slightly between them.
Gloria sighed. "...Yes, I'm sorry, leader," she muttered, though her posture radiated dissatisfaction.
"And what Fiona said was true," Jasper continued, addressing the room. His gaze swept over Gloria and Hairo. "That guy, Noah, is exceptionally dangerous. Understanding his threat is what we're going to talk about right now."
"Alright," Gloria said, pulling up a chair, her earlier anger replaced by curiosity. "What's so dangerous about him? Besides the obvious teleporting and... hand-ripping thing?" She gestured vaguely towards Fiona.
"Essentially, his power is teleportation," Jasper began. "First, based on Fiona's initial eyewitness account, he demonstrated the ability to teleport objects away from a person – specifically, planting stolen goods on an innocent bystander to frame them as a shoplifter."
"What? Shoplifter?" Gloria echoed, confused. "He uses his power for petty theft?"
Fiona nodded, her expression grim. "But that was just a trap," she explained. "A way to get my attention, to reel me in. To show me he could manipulate situations effortlessly."
"And as I, and several of you, witnessed firsthand," Jasper continued, his voice hardening, "he can teleport himself instantly. He used this to escape capture and, horrifically, to inflict severe injury on Fiona during the process."
Fiona unconsciously touched her healed wrist, the phantom sensation of tearing flesh making her shiver.
"Unfortunately," Jasper added, "we can't confirm the effective range of his teleportation. If only Daniel were here, his abilities might have been able to detect him or pinpoint his reappearance location."
"If he can teleport between cities," Hairo said, "or worse, across continents, Daniel's involvement wouldn't matter much, right? He'd be impossible to track conventionally."
"I doubt the range is truly unlimited," Jasper countered, though he looked troubled. "Such a powerful ability must have constraints. But I won't deny the possibility. We must operate under the assumption his mobility is near absolute."
"Teleportation," Gloria mused, tapping her chin. "Is there even a way to catch someone like that? It feels inherently... slippery."
"Yeah," Hairo agreed, leaning against the wall. He looked weary. "The power itself screams 'uncatchable.' Even if we somehow got him into a cell, what stops him from teleporting out the moment the door closed?"
"That's true, for now," Jasper conceded. "But if we understand the mechanics of his power better—its triggers, its limitations—there must be a way to counter it, to stop him."
"But we barely know what he can do, right?" Hairo said. "I mean, at this point, he seems to be able to teleport objects and himself at will. We haven't even discussed... his other claim." Hairo shifted uncomfortably.
"His claim?" Gloria asked, looking between Hairo and Fiona, sensing the sudden tension. "What do you mean? What other claim?"
Hairo cleared his throat, avoiding Gloria's gaze. "Eh... Why don't you tell her, Fiona?" he suggested, looking distinctly uncomfortable.
Fiona sighed deeply, her cheeks flushing slightly. "If I have to," she mumbled, bracing herself.
"What? Why are you guys acting so weird?" Gloria demanded, her confusion mounting. "It's just teleportation, right? What's with the awkward atmosphere?"
"It's because he claimed that he..." Fiona started, then trailed off, struggling to find the words.
"What? Say it properly, Fiona," Gloria urged, leaning forward.
Fiona took a deep breath, her face burning with embarrassment. "He said... he claimed... he can teleport his... stuff," she stammered, gesturing vaguely downwards, "...and instantly impregnate someone!" The last words came out in a rush.
Gloria's jaw dropped. She stared at Fiona, then at Hairo, then back at Fiona.
"What the actual heck...?" she said, her voice a mixture of disbelief and horrified fascination.
Hairo nodded grimly. "Exactly. My first reaction too. Utterly disturbing."
"Are you guys for real...?" Gloria said, still processing the grotesque implication. "He actually said that?"
Fiona nodded miserably. "That's what he said."
"Did he, though?" Gloria asked. "Did he... try?" The thought was chilling.
"Of course not!" Fiona said, horrified.
"Yes," Jasper confirmed quickly. "Just to be absolutely certain, Fiona underwent medical tests immediately after her initial encounters with him. They were negative, thankfully." He paused, letting the relief sink in. "That's why his claim is likely false. Most likely he was just playing with Fiona's feelings—just psychological manipulation."
"I see," Gloria said, slumping back slightly. "Thank goodness. It would be a complete nightmare if he could actually do that, right? Utterly violating."
"But that's not really one hundred percent certain, right?" Hairo said cautiously. "I mean, he could possess that ability but simply chose not to use it on Fiona. We can't definitively rule it out based on one negative test."
"Oh, come on, Hairo," Gloria groaned. "Don't make it worse!"
"Sorry," Hairo mumbled.
"But what Hairo said is unfortunately true," Jasper said, his voice heavy. "We have no way to definitively confirm or deny that particular claim. That ambiguity, combined with his proven teleportation abilities and sadistic tendencies, makes him uniquely and profoundly dangerous. He exploits fear and uncertainty as much as his power."
"So what do we do then?" Gloria asked, the earlier frustration replaced by grim determination. "How do we handle someone like that?"
"I will order all available members to return to headquarters immediately," Jasper stated. "We need full strength. We will form a dedicated task force specifically designed to locate, contain, and capture Noah."
"But what about that mission you just gave them?" Hairo asked, frowning.
"Right," Jasper said, pausing. He ran a hand through his white hair, clearly conflicted. "I guess they need to finish that first before I can recall them."
"Wait, what mission?" Gloria asked. "Am I the only one out of the loop about everything here? Unfair! Aren't I part of this group too? Why does everyone know about stuff except me?"
"Well," Hairo explained patiently, "it was a mission assigned to another group, so no wonder you weren't told."
"But you all knew, right?" Gloria pressed, gesturing around the room. They exchanged awkward glances.
"Well, yes, but..." Hairo started.
"Unfair!" Gloria pouted, crossing her arms dramatically. "Totally unfair! I want to know about important things too!"
Hairo shot a helpless look at Jasper, silently asking for backup.
"Gloria," Jasper said, his tone firm but understanding. "I promise that moving forward, especially with this Noah threat, I will ensure you are fully informed. Okay? We need everyone's help."
Gloria studied his face for a moment, then gave a reluctant, slow nod. "...If you say so, leader," she conceded, though a hint of dissatisfaction remained.
"So," she leaned forward, curiosity overriding her sulk, "what is this mission about, anyway?"
"Ah, we found new awakened criminals," Jasper said. "They formed a group of two, and we're trying to hunt them down."
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